Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Linking development and aging.

Bas J Zwaan1

  • 1Evolutionary Biology Department, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Kaiserstraat 63, 2311GP Leiden, The Netherlands. Zwaan@rulsfb.leidenuniv.nl

Science of Aging Knowledge Environment : SAGE KE
|December 4, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Understanding aging requires studying how environmental factors influence life span and reproduction. Manipulating the larval environment reveals how pathways like insulin signaling impact adult aging and longevity.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A participatory food environment study on healthy diets in Southern and Eastern Zambia.

Health & place·2026
Same author

Species sorting shapes the divergence of a traditional fermented dairy-derived bacterial community with repeatable functionality during propagation with alternative substrates.

World journal of microbiology & biotechnology·2026
Same author

Genomic prediction in insects: a case study on wing morphology traits in the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis.

G3 (Bethesda, Md.)·2025
Same author

Land use drives drug resistance in an airborne human fungal pathogen.

The ISME journal·2025
Same author

Continent-wide differentiation of fitness traits and patterns of climate adaptation among European populations of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>.

Evolution letters·2025
Same author

<i>In vitro</i> colon fermentation of a traditional fermented food using stool from consumers and non-consumers.

Food & function·2025

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Gerontology
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Evolutionary theory posits that life stages are optimized for reproduction, with aging as a byproduct.
  • Genetic, developmental, and physiological mechanisms influencing aging are often conserved across species.
  • The insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (INS) pathway is a conserved mechanism regulating lifespan and reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for increased use of environmental manipulation and gene-environment interaction studies.
  • To understand the functions of longevity-determining pathways.
  • To identify critical life stages where these pathways affect adult life.

Main Methods:

  • Environmental manipulation during development (e.g., larval diet).
  • Investigating gene by environment interactions.
  • Assessing effects on adult reproduction, lifespan, aging, and INS pathway activity.

Main Results:

  • A recent study by Tu and Tatar demonstrated the utility of larval environment manipulation.
  • This approach successfully revealed impacts on adult lifespan, reproduction, and aging.
  • The study provided insights into the role of the INS pathway in aging.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental manipulation, particularly during development, is a powerful tool for aging research.
  • Understanding gene-environment interactions is crucial for deciphering longevity pathways.
  • This approach promises significant advancements in comprehending the aging process.

Related Experiment Videos